Everything’s bigger, better and bolder in Las Vegas, but there’s more to the “Entertainment Capital of the World” than casinos, hotels, shops, condos and spectacular entertainment.

There’s also a massive recording scene going on, with state of the art Odds On Recording Studios leading the charge to make Vegas a premier destination to track and master everything from high end demos by budding hip-hoppers and rockers to the next platinum selling superstar album. Just ask hip-hop/rap superstar Akon, rapper T.I., Smash Mouth lead singer Steve Harwell and pop/rocker Huey Lewis—they’ve all done sessions there this year. And recently, Alicia Keys’ engineer Ann Mincelli stopped in to mix a live track of “Superwoman” for the Women’s Basketball playoffs.

Already one of Vegas’ most popular facilities, Odds On is getting a $2 million plus, 7000 square foot makeover which adds a new mix room, a new 1,500-plus square foot tracking room, an SSL Duality Console (SSL’s newest super console) with 96 inputs and a remodeled client lounge with warm purple tones, beautiful artwork and metal sculptures, 2 vintage pinball machines, and—it’s Vegas, baby—a stripper pole.

The studio is rolling out the expansion in three unique phases, beginning with the opening in early December of the new large main studio room with the Duality Console and continuing with the rollout of a new mixing room, which will feature the studio’s 80-input SSL 9000K console. Designed specifically for writing, pre-production and editing, the revamped “C” room featuring a newly acquired SSL Matrix Console will open in early February, followed by the brand new mastering room later in the month.

Head of Audio Production and Development Bobby Ferrari says that besides the main rooms, Odds On Recording Studios has extra warehouse space that both control rooms are wired to. “So if you want to record in an acoustically wild cement warehouse area, you can just plug in and get a big concert hall, John Bonham sounding vibe with all the live reverb crunch you would expect in such a space.”

Odds On Recording Studios has also teamed up with microphone guru David Bock of Bock Audio to fully restore its large collection of vintage tube microphones, which include those by Neumann, AKG and Gefell and was once housed at legendary RPM Studios in New York.

“As microphones age,” Ferrari says, “the tubes and capsules wear out and need to be cleaned. David will be bringing them up to new standards and restore them to their full working condition. His work is a cut above the  rest. His attention to detail is flawless, and his respect for returning the microphones to original working condition is astonishing. I have worked with David for many years and all of his mics from Soundelux to Bock Audio are the best on the market.”

To create what he calls “good juju” that most artists and engineers may not even be aware of when they first start working there, the team of Ferrari, three time Grammy winning mixer and engineer James “Bonzai” Caruso (Alicia Keys, Gwen Stefani, Madonna, Mary J. Blige) and storied multi-platinum engineer Sean O’Dwyer (Pink Floyd, Randy Newman, Blink-182) threw in a handful of legendary CDs when the concrete was poured for the “floating floors” of the new rooms. They included classics by Steely Dan, Frank Sinatra, The Carpenters and Outkast as well as AC/DC’s Back In Black and of course Sgt. Pepper.

“Both in hip-hop, rock and with the popularity of programs like Rock Band and Guitar Hero, we’re seeing an upswing by young musicians towards using more live instruments and musicians,” says Ferrari. “We wanted to expand Odds On Recording now to capitalize on this great resurgence and are committed to being part of the future of the music industry. The most exciting aspect of expanding our world class facility is that we will not only continue to attract superstar talent but also be able to cultivate new artists for our Odds On label in these very rooms. Bonzai, Sean and myself work together like a creative think tank. We all have different backgrounds and experiences, but the chemistry we have together makes for great recordings.

“The studio-label tie-in captures that classic big studio, boutique record label feel like A&M had in the 70s, where everyone is working on the same property. Combining this stunning array of new and vintage equipment along with a warm aesthetic that helps our clients get into their creative space while exciting the senses, Odds On Recording is on the cutting edge of what recording studios should be, not only in Las Vegas but around the world.”